Chargers win, but TV viewers don't see it

SAN DIEGO – The Chargers have not folded, conceded or fallen into Mission Bay, although most of San Diego County will just have to believe that on faith.

For the first time since 2004, Chargers fans resisted pleas to buy enough tickets to make sure a home game could be televised.

Perhaps that explained the six interceptions and three lost fumbles Jacksonville and San Diego created Sunday. The sunlight, glinting off those empty blue chairs, was too bothersome.

According to the listings for KFMB, the CBS affiliate here, the stay-at-homes were treated to New England and the Jets. So the miracle is that 62,691 did show up, lured by exquisite weather and all that extra parking.

What they saw was a Chargers team that has not lost its elements as much as changed its shape.

Six days after a torrential nightmare in Kansas City, they blasted the Jaguars, 38-13.

"One and one," General Manager A.J. Smith said later. "Are we still in the hunt?"

Hunt? They haven't even saddled the horses yet

There was a brutal five-turnover, 17-play stretch in the second quarter in which Jacksonville suffered two interceptions and a fumble, and the Chargers' Philip Rivers threw two picks, with a Jacksonville blocked punt to punctuate the end of the half.

Otherwise, the marine layer of dread that has surrounded the franchise began to dissipate.

No, Vincent Jackson isn't catching passes here — he was suspended anyway for three games, and couldn't come to terms with the Chargers, and the word is that the Vikings will trade for him soon.

But that just leaves more for Antonio Gates, the world's best tight end, who caught two touchdowns. And Malcom Floyd gathered in a 54-yard bomb from Rivers (22 for 29, 119.0 rating).

No, LaDainian Tomlinson works elsewhere, and rookie Ryan Mathews lost another fumble and then had to leave on a cart because of a rolled ankle.

But fullback Mike Tolbert, with a body suited for picking up the 4-10 split, head-butted his way for 82 yards and two touchdowns.

In the hard-cap NFL, with injuries and contract disputes and changes in the front office, the season is a minefield for almost everyone.

So it was nothing personal when Cason lost his nickel back job to Steve Gregory last year. Except Cason took it personally.

The approach has worked for him before, when he wasn't recruited as heavily or drafted as highly as he thought he deserved.

"I'm always going to have that chip (on his shoulder) no matter what," Cason said. "I'm confident in my abilities. I'm privileged, but I've worked hard to get in this position. So there's no excuses. The things I'm capable of, I don't need anyone else to tell me."

The Chargers defense has held its two opponents to a 56.8 QB rating, 7-for-23 third down conversions, and three touchdowns from scrimmage.

Jacksonville didn't crack the end zone until 2:34 remained, and Siler chuckled grimly when asked how the Chargers stopped such a physical offense.

"We're a physical team, too," Siler said. "I'm not a big credit guy. I don't really care what people think about us, but I know what we can do."

Eventually, some of the departed might reclaim those blue seats. The Chargers say they sold 5,000 tickets after the blackout was imposed.

"I'm just sorry the fans who didn't get to come didn't get to watch at all," Gates said. "Maybe we need to do a better job of promoting, but we need everybody here."

He meant the customers. Around him, he saw all the Chargers that were required.

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